Strikeforce headliner Tarec Saffiedine: No promises I'm headed to UFC

OKLAHOMA CITY – After grinding his way through the now-defunct Strikeforce Challengers series, a graduation to the “arena series,” and now headlining his first major Strikeforce card in a championship bout, welterweight Tarec Saffiedine has proven he can hang with just about top 170-pounder in the world.

But he said there’s no promises he’s headed to the UFC following Saturday’s farewell “Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine” event, which takes place at Chesapeake Energy Center in Oklahoma City.

Following his Showtime-televised headliner against champion Nate Marquardt (32-10-2 MMA, 1-0 SF), Saffiedine (13-3 MMA, 5-1 SF) will watch Strikeforce close its doors for good, and some fighters will be heading to its sister promotion.

Win or lose, Saffiedine has rightfully earned an invitation, but he hasn’t asked about one, and frankly, he probably wouldn’t want to know anyway.

“I think a win is always better for the next step in whatever you do, but as far as the UFC, I haven’t been approached by them in any way,” Saffiedine today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “So I’m really just focused on winning the fight.”

Saffiedine initially cut his teeth overseas, which included a two-bout stint with DREAM. But he really jelled when he joined Strikeforce in 2010. Since then, he’s posted a 5-1 record, including recent wins over Scott Smith, Tyler Stinson and Roger Bowling.

He said he remains immensely thankful for the oportunity.

“I had an amazing ride with Strikeforce,” he said. “Where I’m from, from Belgium where MMA is not even legal over there, going to the U.S. and fighting in such a great organization, I enjoyed every moment of it, every fight. It’s kind of the journey that picked up my career. I loved every moment of it.”

His journey, though, could continue on the world’s biggest MMA stage. A win over Marquardt would almost certainly lead to a UFC contract. And there’s certainly no shame in a loss to someone of his opponent’s pedigree.

Still, if he can leave Oklahoma City as Strikeforce’s final welterweight champion – a title held only by Marquardt and Nick Diaz – Saffiedine could find himself in some big fights.

“I think I’d definitely be a Top 5 or Top 10 fighter because even though Strikeforce won’t be there, I think the value of the (Strikeforce) belt is huge in the UFC,” he said. “But it’s not my call. I would definitely love to fight for the title in the UFC, but it’s not my decision.

“So I just want that belt. I want to win, and I want to put an exciting last fight with Strikeforce.”

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